Carbamates of rapamycin

ABSTRACT

A compound of the structure ##STR1## wherein R and R 1  are each, independently, hydrogen, ##STR2## R 2  and R 3  are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --CO 2  R 5 , --COR 5 , --CN, --NO 2 , --SO 2  R 5 , --SO 3  R 5 , --OR 5 , --SR 5 , or Ar; 
     R 4  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --CF 3 , --NR 5  R 6 , --CO 2  R 5 , --COR 5 , CONR 5  R 6 , --NO 2 , halogen, --OR 5 , --SR 5 , --CN, --SO 2  R 5 , --SO 3  R 5 , --SO 2  NR 5  R 6 , or Ar; 
     R 5  and R 6  are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or Ar; ##STR3## are each, independently, a 5-7 membered saturated, unsaturated, or partially unsaturated heterocyclic radical, that is optionally fused to a phenyl ring or a cycloalkane or cycloalkene ring, wherein the heterocyclic ring may optionally contain O, S, or NR 8  in the heterocyclic ring, and may be optionally substituted by R 7  ; 
     R 7  is alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl, alkynyl, --CF 3 , --NR 5  R 6 , --CO 2  R 5 , --COR 5 , CONR 5  R 6 , --NO 2 , halogen, --OR 5 , --SR 5 , --CN, --SO 2  R 5 , --SO 3  R 5 , --SO 2  NR 5  R 6 , or Ar; 
     R 8  is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --CF 3 , --NR 5  R 6 , --CO 2  R 5 , --COR 5 , CONR 5  R 6 , --OR 5 , --SR 5 , --CN, --SO 2  R 5 , --SO 3  R 5 , --SO 2  NR 5  R 6 , or Ar; 
     Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, or hetaryl, wherein the foregoing may be optionally substituted; with the proviso that R and R 1  are both not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful as an immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antiproliferative, and antitumor agent.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/259,701 filed Jun. 14, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,260, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/160,984, filed Dec. 1, 1993, now abandoned which is a divisional of Ser. No. 08/054,655, filed Apr. 23, 1993 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,584), which is a continuation in-part of Ser. No. 07/960,597, filed Oct. 13, 1992, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to carbamates of rapamycin and a method for using them for inducing immunosuppression, and in the treatment of transplantation rejection, graft vs. host disease, autoimmune diseases, diseases of inflammation, solid tumors, fungal infections, and hyperproliferative vascular disorders.

Rapamycin is a macrocyclic triene antibiotic produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus, which was found to have antifungal activity, particularly against Candida albicans, both in vitro and in vivo [C. Vezina et al., J. Antibiot. 28, 721 (1975); S. N. Sehgal et al., J. Antibiot. 28, 727 (1975); H. A. Baker et al., J. Antibiot. 31, 539 (1978); U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,992; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,993,749].

Rapamycin alone (U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,171) or in combination with picibanil (U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,653) has been shown to have antitumor activity. R. Martel et al. [Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 55, 48 (1977)] disclosed that rapamycin is effective in the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis model, a model for multiple sclerosis; in the adjuvant arthritis model, a model for rheumatoid arthritis; and effectively inhibited the formation of IgE-like antibodies.

The immunosuppressive effects of rapamycin have been disclosed in FASEB 3, 3411 (1989). Cyclosporin A and FK-506, other macrocyclic molecules, also have been shown to be effective as immunosuppressive agents, therefore useful in preventing transplant rejection [FASEB 3, 3411 (1989); FASEB 3, 5256 (1989); R. Y. Calne et al., Lancet 1183 (1978); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,899].

Rapamycin has also been shown to be useful in preventing or treating systemic lupus erythematosus [U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,999], pulmonary inflammation [U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,899], insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [Fifth Int. Conf. Inflamm. Res. Assoc. 121 (Abstract), (1990)], and smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal thickening following vascular injury [Morris, R. J. Heart Lung Transplant 11 (pt. 2): 197 (1992)].

Mono- and diacylated derivatives of rapamycin (esterified at the 28 and 43 positions) have been shown to be useful as antifungal agents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,885) and used to make water soluble prodrugs of rapamycin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,803). Recently, the numbering convention for rapamycin has been changed; therefore according to Chemical Abstracts nomenclature, the esters described above would be at the 31- and 42- positions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,678 discloses carbamates of rapamycin that are useful as immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antitumor agents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides derivatives of rapamycin which are useful as immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antiproliferative, and antitumor agents having the structure ##STR4## wherein R¹ and R² are each, independently, hydrogen, --CONH--[(CR³ R⁴)_(m) (--A--(CR⁵ R⁶)_(n))_(p) ]_(q) --B; ##STR5## R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, and B are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthioalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylaminoalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3-8 carbon atoms, --OR⁷, --SR⁷, halogen, --CN, --NO₂, --CF₃, --COR⁷, --CO₂ R⁷, --CONHR⁷, --SO₂ R⁷, --OSO₃ R⁷, --NR⁷ R⁸, --NHCOR⁷, --NHSO₂ R⁷, or Ar;

R⁷ and R⁸ are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthioalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylaminoalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3-8 carbon atoms, or Ar;

R⁹ and R¹⁰ are each, independently, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthioalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylaminoalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 3-8 carbon atoms, --CF₃, --COR⁷, --CO₂ R⁷, --CONHR⁷, --SO₂ R⁷, or Ar;

A is --CH₂ --, --NR⁷ --, --O--, --S--, --SO--, --SO₂ --, --PR⁷ ----CO--, --NHCO--, --NHSO--, or --P(O)(R⁷)--;

Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, quinoxalyl, thienyl, thionaphthyl, furyl, benzofuryl, benzodioxyl, benzoxazolyl, benzoisoxazolyl, indolyl, thiazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, imidazolyl, benzopyranyl, benz[b]thiephenolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzthiazolyl, benzodioxolyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, or pyrrolidinyl; wherein the Ar group may be optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with a group selected from alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms, cyano, halo, hydroxy, nitro, carbalkoxy of 2-7 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, amino, dialkylamino of 1-6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthio of 1-6 carbon atoms, --SO₃ H, --PO₃ H, and --CO₂ H; ##STR6## is a nitrogen containing heterocycle that may be saturated, unsaturated, or partially unsaturated, and may be optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with a group selected from alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms, cyano, halo, hydroxy, nitro, carbalkoxy of 2-7 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, amino, dialkylamino of 1-6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthio of 1-6 carbon atoms, --SO₃ H, --PO₃ H, and --CO₂ H;

with the proviso that R¹ and R² are not both hydrogen;

m=0-6;

n=0-6;

p=0-1;

q=0-1;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts are those derived from such inorganic cations such as sodium, potassium, and the like; organic bases such as: mono-, di-, and trialkyl amines of 1-6 carbon atoms, per alkyl group and mono-, di-, and trihydroxyalkyl amines of 1-6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, and the like; and organic and inorganic acids as: acetic, lactic, citric, tartaric, succinic, maleic, malonic, gluconic, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, nitric, sulfuric, methanesulfonic, and similarly known acceptable acids.

It is preferred that the aryl portion of the arylalkyl substituent is a phenyl, piperazinyl, piperidinyl, or pyridyl group that is optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with a group selected from alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms, cyano, halo, nitro, carbalkoxy of 2-7 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, amino, dialkylamino of 1-6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, alkylthio of 1-6 carbon atoms, --SO₃ H, --PO₃ H, and --CO₂ H. The term alkyl includes both straight chain and branched alkyl groups.

It is preferred that ##STR7## is a pyridyl, pyrazinyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, pyrrolidinyl, thiazolyl, pyrimidinyl, isoxazolyl, pyrrolidinyl, or imidazolyl group that may be optionally substituted as described above.

This invention also discloses preferred amidino carbamates having the structure ##STR8## wherein R and R¹ are each, independently, hydrogen, ##STR9## R² and R³ are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, --CN, --NO₂, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, or Ar;

R⁴ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, --CF₃, --NR⁵ R⁶, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, CONR⁵ R⁶, --NO₂, halogen, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, --CN, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --SO₂ NR⁵ R⁶, or Ar;

R⁵ and R⁶ are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, or Ar; ##STR10## are each, independently, a 5-7 membered saturated, unsaturated, or partially unsaturated heterocyclic radical, that is optionally fused to a phenyl ring or a cycloalkane or cycloalkene ring of 5-7 carbon atoms, wherein the heterocyclic ring may optionally contain O, S, or NR⁸ in the heterocyclic ring, and may be optionally substituted by R⁷ ;

R⁷ is alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, --CF₃, --NR⁵ R⁶, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, CONR⁵ R⁶, --NO₂, halogen, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, --CN, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --SO₂ NR⁵ R⁶, or Ar;

R⁸ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms,--CF₃, --NR⁵ R⁶, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, CONR⁵ R⁶, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, --CN, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --SO₂ NR⁵ R⁶, or Ar;

Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, or hetaryl, wherein the foregoing may be optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with a group selected from alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms, cyano, halo, hydroxy, nitro, carbalkoxy of 2-7 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, amino, dialkylamino of 1-6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthio of 1-6 carbon atoms, --SO₃ H, and --CO₂ H;

with the proviso that R and R¹ are both not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

For the compounds having structure II (immediately above), the terms alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, and alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, include both straight chain as well as branched carbon chains. When any of the generic terms (i.e., R⁵) are contained more than once in a given compound, each may be the same or different. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds having structure II are the same as was defined following the compounds of structure I.

For the compounds having structure II, hetaryl is defined as an unsaturated or partially saturated heterocyclic radical of 5-12 atoms having 1 ring or 2 fused rings. Preferred heterocyclic radicals include unsaturated heterocyclic radicals such as furanyl, thiophenyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2-dithiolyl, 1,3-dithiolyl, 1,2,3-oxathiolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3,4-oxatriazolyl, 1,2,3,5-oxatriazolyl, 1,2,3-dioxazolyl, 1,2,4-dioxazolyl, 1,3,2-dioxazolyl, 1,3,4-dioxazolyl, 1,2,5-oxathiazolyl, 1,3-oxathiolyl, 1,2-pyranyl, 1,4-pyranyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, 1,2,4-triazinyl, 1,2,3-triazinyl, 1,2,4-oxazinyl, 1,3,2-oxazinyl, 1,2,6-oxazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, isoxazinyl, 1,2,5-oxathiazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, o-isoxazinyl, p-isoxazinyl, 1,2,5-oxathiazinyl, 1,2,6-oxathiazinyl, 1,3,5,2-oxadiazinyl, azepinyl, oxepinyl, thiepinyl, 1,2,4-diazepinyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, thionaphthenyl, indolyl, indolenyl, 2-isobenzazolyl, 1,5-pyrindinyl, pyrano[3,4-b]pyrrolyl, benzpyrazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, anthranilyl, 1,2-benzopyranyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinazolinyl, naphthyridinyl, pyrido[3,4-b]pyridinyl. pyrido[4,3-b]pyridinyl, pyrido[2,3-b]pyridinyl, 1,3,2-benzozazinyl, 1,4,2-benzoxazinyl, 2,3,1-benzoxazinyl, 3,1,4-benzoxazinyl, 1,2-benzisoxazinyl, 1,4-benzisoxazinyl, carbazolyl, purinyl, and partially saturated heterocyclic radicals selected from the list above. All of the preferred heterocyclic radicals contain at least one double bond. When the heterocyclic radical is partially saturated, one or more of the olefins in the unsaturated ring system is saturated; the partially saturated heterocyclic radical still contains at least one double bond. It is more preferred that hetaryl is pyridinyl.

For the amidino carbamates having structure II, it is preferred that the ##STR11## moieties are pyrrolyl, 3,4-dihydropyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, 4,5-dihydroimidazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridinyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl, piperidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, hexahydro-1,3,5-triazinyl, 1,2,4-triazinyl, 1,3,2-oxazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, morpholinyl, azepinyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolenyl, benzoxazolyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, and, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl radicals that are optionally substituted by R⁸. The fourth ring structure, above, is the more preferred of the four ring systems, and within this ring system it is more preferred that the radical is 4,5-dihydroimidazolyl or 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidinyl. It is also preferred that the R⁷ substituent, when present, is phenyl.

The compounds of this invention carbamylated at the 42-position or at both the 31- and 42-positions can be prepared by converting the 42- and/or 31-alcohols of rapamycin to a carbonate (see Example 1 ) followed by reaction with an appropriately substituted amine to provide the desired carbamate. The following scheme illustrates the preparation of the compound of Example 4. ##STR12##

Alternatively, the compounds of this invention carbamylated at the 42-position or at both the 31- and 42-positions can be prepared by reacting rapamycin with an appropriately substituted isocyanate under neutral conditions or in the presence of a base, such as pyridine. Preparation of carbamates of rapamycin using this method was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,678, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The 31-carbamylated compounds of this invention can be prepared by protecting the 42-alcohol of rapamycin with a protecting group, such as with a tert-butyl dimethylsilyl group, followed by carbamylation of the 31-position by the procedures described above. Removal of the protecting group provides the 31-carbamylated compounds. In the case of the tert-butyl dimethylsilyl protecting group, deprotection can be accomplished under mildly acidic conditions.

Having the 31-position carbamylated and the 42-position deprotected, the 42-position can be carbamylated using a different amine (via the carbonate) or isocyanate than was reacted with the 31-alcohol, to give compounds having different carbamates at the 31- and 42- positions. Alternatively, the 42-carbamylated compounds, prepared as described above, can be reacted with a different amine (via the carbonate) or isocyanate to provide compounds having different carbamates at the 31- and 42-positions.

The amines and isocyanates used to prepare the compounds of the invention are commercially available or can be prepared by methods that are disclosed in the literature.

This invention also covers analogous carbamates of other rapamycins such as, but not limited to, 29-demethoxyrapamycin, [U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,464, 32-demethoxyrapamycin under C.A. nomenclature]; rapamycin derivatives in which the double bonds in the 1-, 3-, and/or 5-positions have been reduced [U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,262]; 42-oxorapamycin [U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,262]; 29-desmethylrapamycin [U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,339, 32-desmethylrapamycin under C.A. nomenclature]; 7,29-bisdesmethylrapamycin [U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,338, 7,32-desmethylrapamycin under C.A. nomenclature]; and 15-hydroxy- and 15,27-bishydroxy- rapamycin [U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,876]. The disclosures in the above cited U.S. Patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

Immunosuppressive activity for representative compounds of this invention was evaluated in an in vitro standard pharmacological test procedure to measure lymphocyte proliferation (LAF) and in an in vivo standard pharmacological test procedure which evaluated the survival time of a pinch skin graft.

The comitogen-induced thymocyte proliferation procedure (LAF) was used as an in vitro measure of the immunosuppressive effects of representative compounds. Briefly, cells from the thymus of normal BALB/c mice are cultured for 72 hours with PHA and IL-1 and pulsed with tritiated thymidine during the last six hours. Cells are cultured with and without various concentrations of rapamycin, cyclosporin A, or test compound. Cells are harvested and incorporated radioactivity is determined. Inhibition of lymphoproliferation is assessed as percent change in counts per minute from non-drug treated controls. For each compound evaluated, rapamycin was also evaluated for the purpose of comparison. An IC₅₀ was obtained for each test compound as well as for rapamycin. When evaluated as a comparator for the representative compounds of this invention, rapamycin had an IC₅₀ ranging from 0.3-0.9 nM. The results obtained are provided as an IC₅₀ and as the percent inhibition of T-cell proliferation at 0.1 μM. The results obtained for the representative compounds of this invention were also expressed as a ratio compared with rapamycin. A positive ratio indicates immunosuppressive activity. A ratio of greater than 1 indicates that the test compound inhibited thymocyte proliferation to a greater extent than rapamycin. Calculation of the ratio is shown below. ##EQU1##

Representative compounds of this invention were also evaluated in an in vivo test procedure designed to determine the survival time of pinch skin graft from male BAB/c donors transplanted to male C₃ H(H--2K) recipients. The method is adapted from Billingham R. E. and Medawar P. B., J. Exp. Biol. 28:385-402, (1951 ). Briefly, a pinch skin graft from the donor was grafted on the dorsum of the recipient as a allograft, and an isograft was used as control in the same region. The recipients were treated with either varying concentrations of test compounds intraperitoneally or orally. Rapamycin was used as a test control. Untreated recipients serve as rejection control. The graft was monitored daily and observations were recorded until the graft became dry and formed a blackened scab. This was considered as the rejection day. The mean graft survival time (number of days±S.D.) of the drug treatment group was compared with the control group. The following table shows the results that were obtained. Results are expressed as the mean survival time in days. Untreated (control) pinch skin grafts are usually rejected within 6-7 days. The results shown in Table 1 are based on a dose of 4 mg/kg of test compound. A survival time of 12.0±1.7 days was obtained for rapamycin at 4 m g/kg.

The following table summarizes the results of representative compounds of this invention in these two standard test procedures.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         EVALUATION OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ACTIVITY*                                              LAF            Skin Graft                                              Compound  IC.sub.50 (nM)                                                                              (ratio) (days ± SD)                                  ______________________________________                                         Example 2 0.54         0.63    10.8 ± 1.0                                   Example 3 1.70         0.20     9.8 ± 1.5                                   Example 4 1.21         0.78                                                    ______________________________________                                          *Calculation of the ratio was described supra.                           

The results of these standard pharmacological test procedures demonstrate immunosuppressive activity both in vitro and in vivo for the compounds of this invention. Positive ratios in the LAF test procedures indicates suppression of T-cell proliferation, thereby demonstrating the immunosuppressive activity of the compounds of this invention. As transplanted pinch skin grafts are typically rejected within 6-7 days without the use of an immunosuppressive agent, the increased survival time of the skin graft when treated with the compounds of this invention further demonstrates their utility as immunosuppressive agents. Additionally, the results obtained in the skin graft test procedure further demonstrates the ability of the compounds of this invention to treat or inhibit transplantation rejection.

Based on the results of these standard pharmacological test procedures, the compounds are useful in the treatment or inhibition of transplantation rejection such as kidney, heart, liver, lung, bone marrow, pancreas (islet cells), cornea, small bowel, and skin allografts, and heart valve xenografts; in the treatment or inhibition of graft vs. host disease; in the treatment or inhibition of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis; and diseases of inflammation such as psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, seborrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, pulmonary inflammation (including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, bronchitis, and the like), and eye uveitis.

Because of the activity profile obtained, the compounds of this invention also are considered to have antitumor, antifungal activities, and antiproliferative activities. The compounds of this invention therefore also useful in treating solid tumors, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, fungal infections, and hyperproliferative vascular diseases such as restenosis and atherosclerosis. When used for restenosis, it is preferred that the compounds of this invention are used to treat restenosis that occurs following an angioplasty procedure. When used for this purpose, the compounds of this invention can be administered prior to the procedure, during the procedure, subsequent to the procedure, or any combination of the above.

When administered for the treatment or inhibition of the above disease states, the compounds of this invention can be administered to a mammal orally, parenterally, intranasally, intrabronchially, transdermally, topically, intravaginally, or rectally.

It is contemplated that when the compounds of this invention are used as an immunosuppressive, antirejection, or antiinflammatory agent, they can be administered in conjunction with one or more other immunoregulatory agents. Such other immunoregulatory agents include, but are not limited to azathioprine, corticosteroids, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, rapamycin, cyclosporin A, FK-506, OKT-3, and ATG. By combining the compounds of this invention with such other drugs or agents for inducing immunosuppression or treating inflammatory conditions, lesser amounts of each of the agents are required to achieve the desired effect. The basis for such combination therapy was established by Stepkowski whose results showed that the use of a combination of rapamycin and cyclosporin A at subtherapeutic doses significantly prolonged heart allograft survival time. [Transplantation Proc. 23:507 (1991)].

The compounds of this invention can be formulated neat or with a pharmaceutical carrier to a mammal in need thereof. The pharmaceutical carrier may be solid or liquid. When formulated orally, it has been found that 0.01% Tween 80 in PHOSAL PG-50 (phospholipid concentrate with 1,2-propylene glycol, A. Nattermann & Cie. GmbH) provides an acceptable oral formulation.

A solid carrier can include one or more substances which may also act as flavoring agents, lubricants, solubilizers, suspending agents, fillers, glidants, compression aids, binders or tablet-disintegrating agents; it can also be an encapsulating material. In powders, the carrier is a freely divided solid which is in admixture with the finely divided active ingredient. In tablets, the active ingredient is mixed with a carrier having the necessary compression properties in suitable proportions and compacted in the shape and size desired. The powders and tablets preferably contain up to 99% of the active ingredient. Suitable solid carriers include, for example, calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugars, lactose, dextrin, starch, gelatin, cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidine, low melting waxes and ion exchange resins.

Liquid carriers are used in preparing solutions, suspensions, emulsions, syrups, elixirs and pressurized compositions. The active ingredient can be dissolved or suspended in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid carrier such as water, an organic solvent, a mixture of both or pharmaceutically acceptable oils or fats. The liquid carrier can contain other suitable pharmaceutical additives such as solubilizers, emulsifiers, buffers, preservatives, sweeteners, flavoring agents, suspending agents, thickening agents, colors, viscosity regulators, stabilizers or osmo-regulators. Suitable examples of liquid carriers for oral and parenteral administration include water (partially containing additives as above, e.g. cellulose derivatives, preferably sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution), alcohols (including monohydric alcohols and polyhydric alcohols, e.g. glycols) and their derivatives, and oils (e.g. fractionated coconut oil and arachis oil). For parenteral administration, the carrier can also be an oily ester such as ethyl oleate and isopropyl myristate. Sterile liquid carriers are useful in sterile liquid form compositions for parenteral administration. The liquid carrier for pressurized compositions can be halogenated hydrocarbon or other pharmaceutically acceptable propellant.

Liquid pharmaceutical compositions which are sterile solutions or suspensions can be utilized by, for example, intramuscular, intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injection. Sterile solutions can also be administered intravenously. The compound can also be administered orally either in liquid or solid composition form.

The compounds of this invention may be administered rectally in the form of a conventional suppository. For administration by intranasal or intrabronchial inhalation or insufflation, the compounds of this invention may be formulated into an aqueous or partially aqueous solution, which can then be utilized in the form of an aerosol. The compounds of this invention may also be administered transdermally through the use of a transdermal patch containing the active compound and a carrier that is inert to the active compound, is non toxic to the skin, and allows delivery of the agent for systemic absorption into the blood stream via the skin. The carrier may take any number of forms such as creams and ointments, pastes, gels, and occlusive devices. The creams and ointments may be viscous liquid or semisolid emulsions of either the oil-in-water or water-in-oil type. Pastes comprised of absorptive powders dispersed in petroleum or hydrophilic petroleum containing the active ingredient may also be suitable. A variety of occlusive devices may be used to release the active ingredient into the blood stream such as a semipermiable membrane covering a reservoir containing the active ingredient with or without a carrier, or a matrix containing the active ingredient. Other occlusive devices are known in the literature.

In addition, the compounds of this invention may be employed as a solution, cream, or lotion by formulation with pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles containing 0.1-5 percent, preferably 2%, of active compound which may be administered to a fungally affected area.

The dosage requirements vary with the particular compositions employed, the route of administration, the severity of the symptoms presented and the particular subject being treated. Based on the results obtained in the standard pharmacological test procedures, projected daily dosages of active compound would be 0.1 μg/kg-100 mg/kg, preferably between 0.001-25 mg/kg, and more preferably between 0.01-5 mg/kg. Treatment will generally be initiated with small dosages less than the optimum dose of the compound. Thereafter the dosage is increased until the optimum effect under the circumstances is reached; precise dosages for oral, parenteral, nasal, or intrabronchial administration will be determined by the administering physician based on experience with the individual subject treated. Preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is in unit dosage form, e.g. as tablets or capsules. In such form, the composition is sub-divided in unit dose containing appropriate quantities of the active ingredient; the unit dosage forms can be packaged compositions, for example, packeted powders, vials, ampoules, prefilled syringes or sachets containing liquids. The unit dosage form can be, for example, a capsule or tablet itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any such compositions in package form.

The following examples illustrate the preparation of representative compounds of this invention.

EXAMPLE 1 42O-(4-Nitro-phenoxycarbonyl(rapamycin

To a solution of 5.15 g (5.633 mmol) of rapamycin in 40 ml of methylene chloride cooled to -78° C. with dry ice/acetone bath, was added 0.7 ml dry pyridine and 1.70 g (8.450 mmol) of p-nitrophenylchloroformate dissolved in 10 ml methylene chloride. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to ambient and stirred overnight under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and partitioned between ether and water. The organic phase was washed with 0.1 N HCl (3×), then with a saturated sodium chloride solution (2×), dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under vacuum to give a pale yellow solid. Purification by flash column chromatography (elution with 40% then 50% ethyl acetate/hexanes) gave 5.41 g (88%) of the title compound as a pale yellow solid.

¹ H NMR (DMSO) d 8.3 and 7.5 (aromatic-H, 4H), 4.5 (42C--H, 1H). MS (-) FAB m/z 1078 (M⁻), 590 (Southern Fragment).

EXAMPLE 2 Rapamycin 42-ester with 5-phenyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-pyrimidine-1-carboxylic acid.

To 0.5716 g (2.779 mmol) of 5-phenyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidine hydrochloride hemihydrate was added one equivalent of 0.1M sodium hydroxide/methanol after which the solvent was removed in vacuo. To the solution of the free base in 15 ml of DMF was added 3.00 g (2.779 mmol) of 42-O-(4-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl)rapamycin. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir under nitrogen for 5 hours at ambient temperature, then was diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with portions of H₂ O and brine. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under vacuum to yield crude product. Purification by flash column chromatography (elution with 100% ethyl acetate(2×)) gave 1.8157 g (59%) of the title compound as a cream colored solid.

¹ H NMR (DMSO) δ 8.0 (s, CH═N, 1H), 7.3 (m, aromatic-H, 5H), 4.54 (m, 42C--H, 1H), 3.5 (m, CH₂ N, CH₂ N═C, 4H). MS (-) FAB m/z: 1099 (M⁻), 590 (Southern Fragment), 507 (Northern Fragment).

EXAMPLE 3 Rapamycin 42-ester with 5,6-dihydro-4-H-pyrimidine-1-carboxylic acid

To a solution of 3.00 g (2.229 mmol) of 42-O-(4-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl)rapamycin in 15 ml of DMF was added 0.25 ml (3.043 mmol) of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir under nitrogen for 8 hours at ambient temperature, then was diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with portions of H₂ O and brine. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under vacuum to yield crude product. Purification by flash column chromatography (eluting 7.5% then 10% isopropanol/methylene chloride) gave 0.403 g (14%) of the title compound as a pale yellow solid.

¹ H NMR (DMSO) δ 7.8 (s, CH═N, 1H), 4.5 (m, 42C--H, 1H), 3.5 (m, CH₂ --N, 2H), 3.3 (m, CH₂ --N═, 2H), 1.6 (m, CH₂, 2H). MS (-) FAB m/z: 1023 (M⁻), 590 (Southern Fragment), 431 (Northern Fragment).

EXAMPLE 4 Rapamycin 42-ester with 2-phenyl-4,5-dihydroimidazole-1-carboxylic acid

To a solution of 5.0058 g (4.638 mmol) of 42-O-(4-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl)rapamycin in 25 ml of DMF was added 0.6782 g (4.639 mmol) of 2-phenyl-2-imidazoline. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir under nitrogen for 9 hours at ambient temperature, then was diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with portions of H₂ O and brine. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under vacuum to yield crude product. Purification by flash column chromatography (eluting 100% ethyl acetate/hexanes (2×) followed with 7.5% isopropanol/methylene chloride) gave 0.6064 g (16% ) of the title compound as a white solid.

¹ H NMR (DMSO) δ 7.48-7.35 (m, aromatic-H, 5H), 3.88 (m, CH₂ CH₂ N═C, 4H), 4.35 (m, 42C--H, 1H).

MS (-) FAB m/z: 1085 (M⁻), 590 (Southern Fragment), 493 (Northern Fragment). Results obtained in standard pharmacological test procedures: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating rheumatoid arthritis in a mammal in need thereof, which comprises administering to said mammal an antiarthritis effective amount of a compound of the structure ##STR13## wherein R and R¹ are each, independently, hydrogen, ##STR14## R² and R³ are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, --CN, --NO₂, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, or Ar;R⁴ is hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, --CF₃, --NR⁵ R⁶, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, CONR⁵ R⁶, --NO₂, halogen, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, --CN, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --SO₂ NR⁵ R⁶, or Ar; R⁵ and R⁶ are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, or Ar; ##STR15## are each, independently, a heterocyclic radical selected from the group consisting of pyrrolyl, 3,4-dihydropyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, 4,5-dihydroimidazolyl, 2-pyrazolinyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyridinyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridinyl, piperidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, 1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, piperazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, hexahydro-1,3,5-triazinyl, 1,2,4-triazinyl, 1,3,2-oxazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, morpholinyl, azepinyl, indolyl, indolinyl, indolenyl, benzoxazolyl, quinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, wherein the heterocyclic radical may be optionally substituted by R⁷ ; R⁷ is alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, --CF₃, --NR⁵ R⁶, --CO₂ R⁵, --COR⁵, CONR⁵ R⁶, --NO₂, halogen, --OR⁵, --SR⁵, --CN, --SO₂ R⁵, --SO₃ R⁵, --SO₂ NR⁵ R⁶, or Ar; Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, or hetaryl, wherein the foregoing may be optionally mono-, di-, or tri-substituted with a group selected from alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, alkynyl of 2-7 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of 7-10 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-6 carbon atoms, cyano, halo, hydroxy, nitro, carbalkoxy of 2-7 carbon atoms, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, amino, dialkylamino of 1-6 carbon atoms per alkyl group, dialkylaminoalkyl of 3-12 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl of 2-12 carbon atoms, alkylthio of 1-6 carbon atoms, --SO₃ H, and --CO₂ H; hetaryl is a heterocyclic radical selected from the group consisting of furanyl, thiophenyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2-dithiolyl, 1,3-dithiolyl, 1,2,3-oxathiol, isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,3,4-oxatriazolyl, 1,2,3,5-oxatriazolyl, 1,2,3-dioxazolyl, 1,2,4-dioxazolyl, 1,3,2-dioxazolyl, 1,3,4-dioxazolyl, 1,2,5-oxathiazolyl, 1,3-oxathiolyl, 1,2-pyranyl, 1,4-pyranyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, 1,2,4-triazinyl, 1,2,3-triazinyl, 1,2,4-oxazinyl, 1,3,2-oxazinyl, 1,2,6-oxazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, isoxazinyl, 1,2,5-oxathiazinyl, 1,4-oxazinyl, o-isoxazinyl, p-isoxazinyl, 1,2,5-oxathiazinyl, 1,2,6-oxathiazinyl, 1,3,5,2-oxadiazinyl, azepinyl, oxepinyl, thiepinyl, 1,2,4-diazepinyl, benzofuranyl, isobenzofuranyl, thionaphthenyl, indolyl, indolenyl, 2-isobenzazolyl, 1,5-pyrindinyl, pyrano[3,4-b]pyrrolyl, benzpyrazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzoxazolyl, anthranilyl, 1,2-benzopyranyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinazolinyl, naphthyridinyl, pyrido[3,4-b]pyridinyl, pyrido[4,3-b]pyridinyl, pyrido[2,3-b]pyridinyl, 1,3,2-benzozazinyl, 1,4,2-benzoxazinyl, 2,3,1-benzoxazinyl, 3,1,4-benzoxazinyl, 1,2-benzisoxazinyl, 1,4-benzisoxazinyl, carbazolyl, purinyl, and a partially saturated heterocyclic radical selected from the foregoing: wherein the partially saturated heterocyclic radical contains at least one double bond:with the proviso that R and R¹ are both not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 